How to make a startup successful: Five lessons from venture capital firm First Round July 30, 2015 Ever wondered what traits successful entrepreneurs have in common? Three startups are founded every second across the world, as hopeful entrepreneurs take a stab at their dream venture. The dream will be short-lived for most, however, as 90 per cent inevitably fail. It’s a risky business, and there may not yet be a way to [...]
London FinTech startup Iwoca raises $20m series B funding from Commerzbank and Acton Capital July 30, 2015 London FinTech startup Iwoca has landed a new round of funding including investment from Commerzbank. The $20m series B round from the German bank's venture capital arm CommerzVentures, Acton Capital Partners, the Munich-based private equity and VC firm, Redline Capital and other existing investors, will accelerate the lending platform's growth across Europe. “We're aiming to offer [...]
London startups reconsider the capital after a year because of property prices July 29, 2015 A newly established business setting up shop in London is more likely to consider moving out of the capital after a honeymoon first year, and the high cost of renting is to blame. The likelihood of leaving London jumps by nearly half after the first year, with 66 per cent reconsidering its location after 12 [...]
London food delivery startup Deliveroo takes away $70m series C funding from Greenoaks Capital, Index Ventures, Accel and Hoxton Ventures July 28, 2015 A London startup which delivers food from some of Britain's favourite high-street restaurants such as Wagamama and Gourmet Burger Kitchen straight to your door, has landed $70m (£45m) of new investment to expand internationally, including backing from the firm behind Just Eat. Deliveroo's series C round was led by Greenoaks Capital and existing investor Index [...]
Why wearable tech in healthcare is the best place for a startup right now July 24, 2015 Wearable technology is big business, with some of the largest tech and innovation companies in the world focusing on it right now. Its potential impact on the healthcare industry is huge, which makes it one of the most ripe areas for healthcare focused start-ups to enter into. Read more: Could London emerge as a global [...]
This chart shows just how many startups are launched worldwide every second July 23, 2015 London may be particularly fertile ground for startups, but entrepreneurs abound worldwide. Every year, millions of hopefuls take a stab at their dream venture. In fact, from Silicon Roundabout to Silicon Valley, the sheer number of startups launched globally can be hard to grasp. A staggering 100 million businesses are launched annually, according to figures [...]
Entrepreneurs beware: The Entrepreneurs Networks parliamentary snapshot reveals just how little MPs know about EIS, SEIS and other startup policies July 16, 2015 How much do MPs know about the real business world? A new survey suggests it might be even less than you think (and we're assuming you had pretty low expectations already). The Entrepreneurs Network's annual parliamentary snapshot has exposed a “worrying lack of knowledge” about existing policies that are designed to support entrepreneurs. [...]
Greek startups step up to the plate – CNBC Comment July 13, 2015 IT IS often said that the best business ideas emerge during times of financial stress. When an economy is struggling and its people are cash-strapped, we’re pushed to think outside the box. A prime example is what happened in the US during the financial crisis. A 2013 study in the Journal of Economics and Management [...]
Wearables startup Jewelbots wants to get girls into tech with hi-tech jewellery July 13, 2015 The percentage of women in the tech industry isn’t just low – it’s dropping. Wearables startup Jewelbots wants to change this by developing smart friendship bracelets to get girls interested in coding, and their idea has been a hit on the crowdfunding scene. The company, which launched last autumn, wrote about their idea on their [...]
Budget 2015: Why tech startups based in the “Northern Powerhouse” were left disappointed with George Osborne July 10, 2015 A whopping £100bn. That’s what the digital industry contributes to the UK economy. A thriving industry and a significant driver of UK economic growth, the digital economy is growing faster than the average of 8.1% across the G20 countries and is expected to grow at 11% a year this decade. Read more: These are the [...]